July 2007
30th July. Following recent press speculation, Warrington Wolves can confirm that Head Coach Paul Cullen has accepted a 2 year extension to his contract.
26th July. Andy Bracek has signed a new two year deal with the club,Mark Gleeson has also signed for a further 12 months.
Jerome Guisset who still has a house in the Warrington area is urging Warrington fans to support the Catalan Dragons in the Challenge Cup semi final against Wigan, Jerome who is married to a Warrington girl did not rule out a return to Warrington at some time if the situation presented itself.
Paul Cullen could soon sign a new contract to coach the Wire after a recent upturn in results. Speaking to the Warrington Guardian He said: "I'm pleased that the players have got good reward for the way they have worked, not only this week but through a very difficult period. We're showing some good form and looking that little bit healthier. "Before the game was done, when we rattled up some very good tries and played with some great quality, it was the defensive effort that was the most striking factor. "We managed everything early in the game that they could possibly throw at us. They were going to be at their healthiest at the start of both halves but we've dominated defensively then and scored some great tries as well, "As the guys become more healthy, the injury crisis has abated and you can see the confidence coming back and the confidence coming back on the way we have worked on the defence for a considerable period."
Wires' home match against Catalans Dragons on Sunday, August 19 will now kick off at 7pm after being selected for live screening. The match, which had previously been scheduled to start at 3pm, will be live on Sky Sports.
24th July.Paul Rauhihi could be out of action after suffering internal bleeding in his throat. Rauhihi was elbowed in his throat by Iain Morrison in Sunday's match at Hull KR and had to leave the field. The Kiwi prop is seeing a specialist and is has a haematoma the size of a gob stopper around his trachea. The bleeding is giving him breathing difficulties and will prevent him from training. He will see the specialist again next week for an update on his progress.
22nd July. Hull KR 20 Warrington 60. Lee Briers scored a hat-trick and added eight goals as Wire ran in 11 tries to overwhelm struggling Hull KR. Briers controlled the game to send the visitors back into the top six and leave Hull KR only a point ahead of bottom side Salford. Paul Cullen "We got our reward for a decent week's work and we now have to keep our heads down and keep working. "I was very impressed with Rovers last week against the Catalans and knowing that we prepared with full respect. "I think we are getting a bit more healthy although we have not designed to peak at any relevant point."
Scorers Hull KR: Tries: Hardman, Fisher, Aizue, Morton Goals: Lennon 2 Warrington: Tries: Briers 3, Reardon 2, Clarke 2, Morley, Mark Gleeson, Bridge, Fa'afili Goals: Briers 8
Squads Hull K R: Cockayne, Lennon, Lovegrove, Dyer, Hardman, Murrell, Webster, Tandy, Fisher, Ward, Morrison, J. Netherton, Gene. Replacements: Aizue, Tangata-Toa, Morton, Bauer. Warrington: Grose, Reardon, M. Gleeson, Fa'afili, Penny, Bridge, Briers, Wood, M. Gleeson, Rauhihi, Westwood, Morley, Clarke. Replacements: Parker, Leikvoll, Bracek, Harrison.
21st July. Head Coach Paul Cullen has named his 18 man squad to face Hull KR in Round 21 of the engage Super League XII at Craven Park on Sunday: 1 Stuart Reardon 2 Henry Fa'afili 3 Martin Gleeson 5 Brent Grose 6 Chris Bridge 7 Lee Briers 8 Chris Leikvoll 9 Jon Clarke 10 Paul Rauhihi 11 Ben Westwood 12 Adrian Morley 14 Mark Gleeson 15 Rob Parker 16 Paul Wood 20 Simon Grix 21 Andrew Bracek 22 Ben Harrison 26 Kevin Penny.
18th July. 20 man declaration1 Stuart Reardon 2 Henry Fa'afili 3 Martin Gleeson 5 Brent Grose 6 Chris Bridge 7 Lee Briers 8 Chris Leikvoll 9 Jon Clarke 10 Paul Rauhihi 11 Ben Westwood 12 Adrian Morley 14 Mark Gleeson 15 Rob Parker 16 Paul Wood 19 Steve Pickersgill 20 Simon Grix 21 Andrew Bracek 22 Ben Harrison 24 Chris Riley 26 Kevin Penny
Kevin Penny has signed an enhanced contract that will keep him at Warrington untill 2011. He said: "I'm a Warrington lad and it's an honour to play for my hometown club. "I'm very pleased to sign the contract and I'm even more pleased that the club want me to stay with them. "I'm quite happy to stay here, I don't think it would be fair if I went anywhere else at this moment in time. "I didn't really expect to be playing this early in the season and I certainly didn't expect to be starting when I got put in. "I've really enjoyed it and I've never experienced anything like this before so I am making the most of it. "It's quite a proud feeling to hear the fans shouting your name and to see fans wearing your T-shirt.
Who will be coach next year will be decided in the next two weeks or so, recent form could keep Cullen in a job, Michael Sullivan who is expected to move back to Australia at the end of the year has had a possible move to Canterbury Bulldogs put on hold after he broke his arm against Salford.
Paul Johnson will miss the trip to Hull KR after a recurrance of a neck injury, a back poblem could also mean Vinnie Anderson missing out. Henry Fa'afilli is enjoying his stint at centre," I love it beacuse you get more of the ball and having a quick winger like Kevin Penny outside me makes it easier.
17th July. Mike Wainwright has been released from his contract and will join Salford City Reds, The 31-year-old, who had a testimonial last year, made 243 appearances for the Wolves, scoring 33 tries, and played in all their Super League games last year.Richie Barnett has also been signed by Salford.
5th July. Warrington 42 Salford 6. An easy win for Warrington against a Salford side staring relegation in the face 3 tries from young winger Kevin Penny sealed the game in the second half including his last try which started on the Wire 10 metre line with a kick from Lee Briers and a chase from Penny in which he caught and passed two Salford chasers which included ex Wire winger Wilshere, a further tap forward saw him score an exceptional try which lit up the Halliwell Jones Stadium. The only sour note however was the news that Michael Sullivan suffered a broken arm,that could see his season over.
Paul Cullen "Kevin's final try took some scoring. To outpace two chasers was very special and Kevin has the potential to play top level football. "He has the pace for all to see and has taken his chance exceptionally well. "Henry Fa'afili delivered him some great balls, Adrian Morley was almost unstoppable and Jon Clarke was very smart from dummy half."
Scorers.Warrington: (22) 42 Tries: Clarke 2, Westwood, Fa'afili, Briers, M Gleeson, Penny 3 Goals: Briers 3. Salford: (6) 6 Tries: Dorn Goals: Wilshere.Attnd 9,,634
Squads: Warrington: Grose, Reardon, M. Gleeson, Johnson, Penny, Bridge, Briers, Wood, Clarke, Rauhihi, Westwood, Morley, Anderson. Replacements: Sullivan, Fa'afili, Parker, Leikvoll. Salford: Wilshere, Littler, McGuinness, Moule, Viane, Dorn, Robinson, Coley, Alker, Korkidas, Edmondson, Sibbit, Finnigan. Replacements: Brocklehurst, Haggerty, Gower, Turner.
14th July. Paul Cullen has named his 18 man squad for the engage Super League XII Round 20:
1.Stuart Reardon
2.Henry Fa'afili
3.Martin Gleeson
4.Paul Johnson
5.Brent Grose
6.Chris Bridge
7.Lee Briers
8.Chris Leikvoll
9.Jon Clarke
10.Paul Rauhihi
11.Adrian Morley
12.Ben Westwood
13.Vinnie Anderson
15. Rob Parker
16. Paul Wood
17. Mike Sullivan
21. Andrew Bracek
26. Kevin Penny
12th July. Head Coach Paul Cullen has named his 20 man squad for the engage Super League XII Round 20:
1.Stuart Reardon
2.Henry Fa'afili
3.Martin Gleeson
4.Paul Johnson
5.Brent Grose
6.Chris Bridge
7.Lee Briers
8.Chris Leikvol
l 9.Jon Clarke
10.Paul Rauhihi
11.Adrian Morley
12.Ben Westwood
13.Vinnie Anderson
15. Rob Parker
16. Paul Wood
17. Mike Sullivan
21. Andrew Bracek
22. Ben Harrison 23.
Mike Wainwright
26. Kevin Penny
Andrew Johns will make an appearance on the pitch before the Wire v Wigan game at the Halliwell Jones stadium on the 5th August. Johns is taking a European holiday and will take in the Wigan game. Johns was instrumental in the signing of Michael Monahan and was also influencial in convincing Matt King that Warrington was the club to join if he was coming to England.Wolves shareholder Simon Moran is grateful for Joey's help, he said: "It's great because he's so keen. "He's coming over for the Wigan game. He's coming to Europe and flying in on the Saturday. "It will be good to have him walk round the field and people can thank him for his recruitment help" .
Matt King speaking to the Warrington Guardian said "I don't want to come to Warrington and be a passenger,. I suppose a lot of Aussies go over .there when they're at the end of their career but I'm definitely happy with my form at the moment and I'll look to have a really good pre-season over there and get myself fully fit. "I'd really like to think I can come over there, make a difference and help the club out. "I've had some success in the last couple of seasons so I'd hate to go backwards from that, I'd hope to go over there and be part of a successful club." "I really feel as if I've made the right choice. They're getting a pretty good list together for next year and hopefully it will be an exciting time for the club. "I took a lot of advice from a lot of people. Jamie Lyon was the bloke who got me really interested in going to Super League. I spoke to both Andrew Johns and David Kidwell, too."
Paul Cullen is expecting to get Martin Gleeson removed from the overseas quota for next year. More signings have not been ruled out but the situation is that overseas players currently at the club do not have to move to make room for new players with five confirmed overseas players for next year and five more still allowed.
Simon Moran is well pleased with the recent form of the Wire, "We've won two out of the last three and we could have won the Catalans game in the last minute. The other two were comprehensive victories." A number of players plus coach Paul Cullen are out of contract at the end of the season, but Cull will be here till seasons end at least,
Warrington under 21's take on Salford Under 21's at the Halliwell Jones on Sunday ko 12.30.
10th July .Melbourne centre Matt King has confirmed he will be moving toWarrington at the end of the current season. The 26-year-old New South Wales star and Australia international has signed a four-year deal with the club. "I had to weigh up a lot of things before I made the decision," King said. Melbourne chief executive Brian Waldron said it was impossible for the club to keep King, who had a year to run on his contract but had a get-out clause. . Wigan, Hull KR and Bradford were all believed to have been interested in signing King.
9th July. It is in the Australian press that Wire have captured Matt King from the Melbourne Storm in a deal reported to be A$ 600,000 a season.
Matt King (born 22 August 1980) is an Australian rugby league player for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League competition and also for New South Wales. He previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and the North Sydney Bears but was never able to crack the first grade. His position of choice is at Centre though he often plays on the wing for his state and country.
Childhood and early career King began playing rugby league at the age of seven for his local club side the Casino Cougars in northern New South Wales and was a solid performer through his junior career. In 2000, he was signed by the North Sydney Bears where he worked his way through the grades at the club playing in both jersey flegg and reserve grade, having two seasons at the club before suffering from a serious shoulder injury in 2002 and then quitting rugby league for good because of a claimed disinterest. After hanging up his boots at the age of 22, King took up several odd jobs such as working as a barman and a garbage collector before deciding to give rugby league another go in 2003 signing with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. King failed to crack first-grade or the starting team in reserve grade at the Cronulla side. He began to look for other clubs to play for, eventually settling on moving to the Brisbane Norths club in Queensland, one of the feeder clubs for the Melbourne Storm.
After moving to the Storm's feeder club in Brisbane, King played for nearly a year before being selected to make his first grade debut in the National Rugby League, finally making his debut at the age of 23 against the St George Illawarra Dragons at WIN Stadium in round 24 of 2003, impressing on his debut without scoring. King went on to make another two appearances for the club in the regular season that year, scoring his first try in round 26 against Manly. The 2004 season saw King develop further as a player at the Storm, he cemented his place in the squad and was vital in the Melbournes side attack becoming a potent offensive weapon with his agility, pace, strength and ability to find the try line. At the conclusion of the 2004 club season, King finished with a total of fifteen tries and had developed into one of the up and coming centres in rugby league. This was recognised with his selection in the annual City vs Country match for the Country side. 2005 became the season where King would stamp his mark on rugby league, beginning the season by scoring seven tries in the first seven games of the season including a set of doubles against Brisbane and Canberra and yet again impressing City vs Country selectors enough to be again selected in the annual clash. After further impressive performances King was called up for his first major representative honour, being selected for the New South Wales State of Origin side for all three games in 2005. King finished the 2005 season at Melbourne with fourteen tries, and coupled with his three for New South Wales, earned a spot in the Australian international side for the 2005 tour of Great Britain. The following year in 2006 started off slowly for King, but as the year progressed he worked his way into form again. He was once again selected in the New South Wales side again for the annual State of Origin clash, which NSW lost the series 2-1 to Queensland. After his side's 15-8 loss to the Brisbane Broncos in the 2006 NRL grand final, in which he starred by scoring a try, he famously cost his club $5000 after publicly criticising match referee Paul Simpkins.[5]
Games Tries Goals F/G Points 68 40 - - 160
Matches played Team Matches Years Melbourne Storm 68
2003 - present Country 2
2004 - 2005 New South Wales 7
2005 - present Australia 8 2005 - 2006
8th July. Huddersfield 28 Warrington 47. This was a game The Wire needed to win, it was however Huddersfield who scored first after 3 minutes through Robbie Paul Thorman goaled to put Huddersfield 6-0 up. Wire equalised when a nice move by Sullivan put Chris Bridge in for his first of 3 tries , Warrington went in at Half time 6-20 to the good, they improved the score in the second half to lead 16-41, they then let Hudddersfield get back to 28-41 in the lst few minutes before Lee Penny broke away to score his second try. The win takes Wire up to 8th in the table on 16 points one place above Huddersfield .
Scorers Huddersfield :Tries Paul, Drew, Hudson 2, Elford .Goals: Thorman 4 . Warrington :Tries: Bridge 3, Reardon, Penny 2, Sullivan. Drops: Briers Goals: Briers 9.
Squads Huddersfield: Thorman, Jensen, Elford, Nero, Aspinwall, Brown, Paul, Mason, Hudson, Skandalis, Jones, Snitch, Wild. Replacements: Lolesi, Crabtree, Drew, Raleigh.
Warrington: Grose, Reardon, Fa'afili, Johnson, Penny, Bridge, Briers, Wood, Sullivan, Rauhihi, Morley, Westwood, Clarke. Replacements: Parker, Leikvoll, Bracek, Harrison.
HT 6-20. Attd 6,822
7th July. Final 18 to face Huddersfield on Sunday.
1.Stuart Reardon
2.Henry Fa'afili
4.Paul Johnson
5.Brent Grose
6.Chris Bridge
7.Lee Briers
8.Chris Leikvoll
9.Jon Clarke
10.Paul Rauhihi
11.Adrian Morley
12.Ben Westwood
15. Rob Parker
16. Paul Wood
17. Mike Sullivan
20. Simon Grix
21. Andrew Bracek
22. Ben Harrison
26. Kevin Penny
6th July. Head Coach Paul Cullen has named his 20man squad to face Huddersfield Giants in Round 19 of the Engage Super League XII:
1.Stuart Reardon
2.Henry Fa'afili
4.Paul Johnson
5.Brent Grose
6.Chris Bridge
7.Lee Briers
8.Chris Leikvoll
9.Jon Clarke
10.Paul Rauhihi
11.Adrian Morley
12.Ben Westwood
15. Rob Parker
16. Paul Wood
17. Mike Sullivan
18. Richie Barnett
19. Steve Pickersgill
20. Simon Grix
21. Andrew Bracek
22. Ben Harrison
26. Kevin Penny
5th July. Martin Gleeson could count on Wolves' overseas quota next year. New rules for 2008, defining overseas players as those not registered with an English club for three full seasons before their 21st birthday, seem set to class Martin Gleeson as an overseas player but younger brother Mark as non-quota. The brothers emigrated to Brisbane during childhood and only returned when Martin was 18 and Mark was 16. Martin, who has 17 caps for his country, joined Huddersfield in 1999 and completed two-and-a-half seasons before turning 21. Wolves will be allowed 10 overseas players in 2008 and Vinnie Anderson, Louis Anderson, Michael Monaghan and Chris Hicks are on the quota, while out-of-contract players Henry Fa'afili, Brent Grose, Chris Leikvoll, Paul Rauhihi and Michael Sullivan are also vying for spots.
Ashley Klein could be a reason for the Wire performance in France Kleins performance in recent game hs been over officious to say the least He said: "There's a real fear of giving away too many penalties, certainly with Ashley Klein refereeing. I think we're too efficient. We get off too quickly and the referee allowed Catalans to be all over us like a cheap suit. "We've got to be careful that we don't allow Huddersfield to play. We know our defence has to improve."
Simon Grix could return to the first team on Sunday if injuries keep other players from playing, added to the players already out doubts about the availability of Kevin Penny and Mark Gleeson continueing The Wires injury woes.Cullen said: "Simon might force his way in. Medical issues will probably dictate team selection more than anything. "I don't think Simon's right to be put in at loose forward. Mike Wainwright has played 80 minutes in virtually every game and he's paying the price for it but at this moment you can't take any more experience out just to refresh the side. "You'd like to get Chris Bridge back at stand off and Jon Clarke and Mick Sullivan rotating at nine. You might even want to rest Mark Gleeson. "But we've got to be very careful of making too many changes to a side that is bent out of all recognisable shape." Kevin Penny is a concern for coach Paul Cullen he has been injured in a number of games this year and Cullen feels he may be getting to much game time, Richie Barnett could be brought back to share the load with Penny.
Liverpool FC will be playing their reserve team games at The Halliwell Jones Stadium in the 2007/2008 season. Jack Hobbs, Captain of the Liverpool Reserves was extremely impressed with his first trip to The Halliwell Jones Stadium, "I am really impressed with the facilities at the Halliwell Jones Stadium and the closeness to Liverpool, 20 minutes away compared with Wrexham, which is an hour away. It will feel like a real home atmosphere. With it being so close to Liverpool it will encourage people to come and watch us. I am really looking forward to kicking off our season in style here."